Venture: The Fight For Electric Trucking
Tesla Semi. - Tesla
There has always been a fight for the road and in the past five years we have seen electric cars take the road by storm, and while electric cars have won countless battles, it is semi-trucks who will help win the war.
These diesel-powered trucks take up a lot of space on the road and use a lot of fossil fuels transporting goods. Companies like Tesla, Nikola and Hyliion are the three major competitors in the electric trucking industry. These companies are tech superstars with massive amounts of funding and constantly taking risk with new and adventurous tech.
These new semi-trucks are changing the world as we know it. The new scheme of a truck allows for a better change in design and thus a better truck. All three of these companies have been looking to acquire other small electric firms to advance their product. For example, Nikola has just recently acquired VectolQ to design an electric truck and hydrogen-powered trucks in an Arizona factory.
Trucking is essential and a reliable method to transport consumer goods across the country
There is a lot of controversy over the electric trucks and if it will give the diesel-powered trucks a run for their money. Since the industrial revolution large trucks have been running the world by transporting goods cross country and making it easier for companies to make their products available nationwide.
From the opposing point of view, these trucks have brought a tear upon the environment as diesel semi-trucks guzzle gas and output massive amounts of fumes.
They have taken over the highways and lead to several accidents due to faulty mechanic issues. Safety has been one of the main decision-making factors for consumers when choosing a vehicle. Electric cars are on the top of that list because they have fewer moving parts that can lead to mechanical failure and thus might lead to an accident. One way or another everyone has been affected by a large semi-truck closing down major highways.
As these companies compete for the road there is one major difference that will separate them from each other.
Energy efficiency.
Tesla trucks use a direct charging battery where the fuel production efficiency is listed at 95% where the Nikola trucks use hydrogen fuel cells and the fuel production is listed at 52%.
Process of how electric and hydrogen automobiles utilize energy
There are a lot more steps that go in charging a hydrogen car than an electric car. All these steps add more stress to the producer and could lead to a problem down the line.
One of Tesla’s advertising points is how little maintenance the car is. With less parts being used it means that there is less that is going to have wear and tear.
Hydrogen cars have a lot more intricacies that go into getting the car to work, that means that it could lead to more repairs. Major automotive producing countries like Germany and China have been acknowledging the change to electric and hydrogen cars. It has been up for debate, was is the best vested route to follow.
China has begun to release all electric car companies such as Denza where Germany tend to operate jointly with China and export from them. Germany is known for its higher end brands such as BMW, Mercedes and Audi. All three of these brands are beginning to branch out into the world of hydrogen and electric cars.
Electric trucks are a lot more efficient and desirable as the technology has been around longer and is more established. Another looming issue that has many people hesitant to switching over to electric is the recharging process. Tesla is slowly taking over the world when it comes to electric recharging stations and their competition is far behind.
There is major lack of hydrogen refueling stations. According to the Department of Energy, there are only 49 hydrogen fueling stations in North America, with most being located in California. On the other hand, Tesla SuperCharger Network is giant. This feature puts the spotlight on Tesla as the more advance company and allows for easier accessibility for consumers.
Not only are these trucks more streamline but are highly technologically advanced. These trucks are equipped with top of the line automotive tech and is making the world of cross country trucking a breeze. Additionally, electric trucks are all computerized and gives the user a stress-free ride in order for them to focus solely on the road.
Comparison between electric, hydrogen and electric automobiles
We have begun to see major action being taken by the government in order to start putting these electric powerhouses to work. The California Air Resources Board just adopted a new electric standard for cargo truck manufacturing at the end of June. They enacted the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) Rule, this will require zero-emissions trucks, meaning large pickup, semi and delivery trucks will make up a majority of big-rig truck sales.
This is going to a major step for electric truck makers like Telsa and Nikola, the ACT Rule will nearly force companies to switch over to an electric truck fleet and will go to the most experienced people in the business.
But not only is this a win for the electric automotive industry but also for air quality, “California’s adoption of the nation’s zero-emissions truck standard is a historic moment for clean air” Paul Cort, director of Earthjustice’s Right to Zero campaign stated.
One of the more important factors is how the consumer like them. A dozen or so customer have been test-driving these truck cross-country, including the logistic company NFI Industries.
Bill Bliem who oversees truck fleets for NFI states, “The drivers love ‘em. They have nothing but great things to say about them-how quiet they are, how, you know, they don’t come home smelling like diesel”.
Bliem is excited to switch the fleets over to electric but as of now there is little financial advantage and the company would not be able to sustain itself with a total fleet switch. Government Financial benefits are about to come to give more incentive to the trucking companies to switch to electric.
Electric vehicles may be the key to unlocking the potential of the green economy
Innovations like this are key to fueling the green economy, and thus reverse the advances of climate change. Fully decarbonizing the economy will require many infrastructure changes costing several trillion dollars. As well as changing how the entire world works from buildings to transportation and agricultural systems.
We have lived the same way for several decades and have decided not to make many advances that are better for the planet. Changing the way we transport materials will be a small step that could lead to further advances.
Overall, this is a positive outlook in the transportation world and could lead to an extreme decrease in automotive pollution. With many hurdles to still jump over, it will be a couple more years until we see the trucks on the road and making a difference. A large government footprint in pushing a world of electric trucking could allow for a better future.